Farmhouses and farm buildings

Farmhouses
Farmhouses are often in isolated locations and can be vulnerable to crime if not properly secured.
- Ensure that doors are kept locked – even when you are on the premises
- Fit locks to all ground floor windows
- Make sure doors and windows are well maintained and in a good state of repair
- Fit mortise deadlocks that comply with the British Standards to all external doors and reinforce with locking bolts
- Investing in timers that turn lights on and off inside the house if you go out at night and consider installing security lighting outside
- Consider fitting an alarm
- For valuable possessions, consider installing a safe
Farm buildings
Farm buildings are used to store valuable equipment, tools and farm supplies and, when left insecure, are inviting to thieves.
- Ensure that your valuable equipment is stored in a secure building behind a strong locked door, or use a metal cage and keep it locked when unattended
- Keep doors to farm buildings locked at all times when not in use – even if you are only away for a short while
- If equipment is in a barn or rick yard, secure it with gates, an alarm or security beams
- Use locks that comply with the British Standards, good quality locking bars and high security padlocks
- For buildings with sliding or double doors, think about having additional locking devices on the inside. This will stop a thief, who has managed to gain access from the roof or a window, from being able to remove large or heavy equipment through the exit
- Consider installing security lighting and CCTV as both are a deterrent and a way of identifying a person, should they gain access to your property
- Windows can be an open invitation to thieves – close them or protect them with metal bars or grilles
- For buildings that can’t be secured fully, either due to animals being inside or due to the building being in use for the majority of the day, consider installing a lockable inner room or steel cage within the building
- Improve security for your diesel and fertiliser
- Keep an inventory, recording any items of value with a detailed description, manufacturer’s name, and serial numbers where applicable. We recommend doing a full inventory check on at least a yearly basis, so that you can ensure all of your records are accurate and up to date